isco manufacturers a wide variety of routers that are suitable for small-scale and large-scale computing

environments. Two of Cisco’s primary router lines fall under Aggregation Services Routers (ASR) and
Integrated Services Routers (ISR), which are designed for two distinct purposes. Read on to find out
what these routers are designed to do and learn about some of the key differences between Cisco ASR
versus ISR routers.

Cisco’s Aggregation Services Routers Overview

Cisco’s ASR series are best suited for enterprises and service providers. They are ideal for high-
bandwidth applications, such as video streaming. The ASR series of routers currently includes the ASR
900 Series, the ASR 1000 Series and the ASR 9000 Series.

Of the three series, the ASR 9000 Series is the highest-end router; it has core routing capabilities in
addition to edge routing capabilities. The ASR 900 Series and ASR 1000 Series only have edge routing
capabilities, but all of of the ASR series routers can handle up to 100G Ethernet.

The ASR 9000 Series also uses different software from the other two series; it runs on IOS XR, whereas
the ASR 900 Series and the ASR 1000 series run on IOS XE. Cisco’s IOS XR operating system is designed
for Cloud-scale networking and allows for software image upgrades and module changes without
impacting operations.

See how Cisco ASR routers compare with Juniper’s high-end routers, the MX Series.

Cisco’s Integrated Services Routers Overview

Cisco’s ISR series have edge routing capabilities and are primarily used by small businesses and branch
offices that have small- or medium-sized networks. The ISR series of routers currently includes the ISR
800 Series, the ISR 1900 Series, the ISR 2900 Series, the ISR 3900 Series and the ISR 4000 Series.

ISR routers provide reliable, secure branch office connectivity and a robust set of features that enable
cloud computing, secure networking, multimedia performance, and mobile connectivity. The ISR series
also use Cisco’s IOS operating system, as opposed to IOS XE or IOS XR. Since ISR series routers are made
for less computing-intensive environments, they have a much smaller footprint than ASR series routers.
The ISR series also have lower maximum Ethernet speeds; the higher-end router of the ISR series, the
ISR 4000, supports up to only 10G Ethernet.

Key Similarities and Differences Between Cisco ASR and ISR Routers
Although there are many similarities between Cisco Aggregation Services Routers and Integrated
Services Routers, there are also several key differences, which is ultimately more important when
considering purchasing Cisco ASR versus ISR routers.
The biggest difference between Cisco ASR and ISR routers is that ASR routers are for enterprises and
service providers, whereas ISR are for customers with small- or medium-sized networks. In general,
because the ASR series are designed for large-scale applications, they have more features and higher
performance levels compared with ISR routers. For example, ASR routers can handle faster Ethernet,
they have a higher port density, and the ASR 9000 Series is the only router series that has core routing
capabilities.

In terms of similarities, both Cisco ASR and ISR routers offer secure WAN connectivity. They have also
both been approved to secure sensitive data when configured with the PSN Interim IPsec Profile. And,
although the Cisco ASR 9000 series provides cloud access like all the Cisco ISR series, the other two ASR
series do not grant cloud access.

Compare Cisco routers to Juniper routers.

BrightStar Systems Resells High-Quality Pre-owned Cisco ASR Equipment

If you’re in need of Cisco ASR routers, BrightStar Systems has you covered.

We offer outstanding service, competitive prices, fast and safe shipping and expert knowledge in pre-
owned, used and refurbished Cisco ASR routers. Our staff is trained and knowledgeable about all our
products and can answer any specific questions you may have.

If you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger, check out the in-depth buying guide we put together, which
walks you through the entire process of purchasing used network equipment.

Our customers include, but aren’t limited to, large-scale data centers around the world, and we offer
wholesale and bulk purchasing to other dealers who resell products. We also purchase used products
from businesses and consumers looking to upgrade their equipment.

It doesn’t matter if you’re purchasing Cisco ASR series routers, or any other of our Cisco networking
equipment, all our products our are fully tested and come with a one-year, in-house warranty.

In addition to pre-owned Cisco hardware, we sell used Juniper and Arista networking hardware. Check
out our Juniper MX vs Cisco ASR Routers page to see how those two router series compare.
And to see how Cisco’s hardware stacks up to Arista’s equipment — particularly Ethernet switches —
take a look at our Arista vs Cisco comparison.

If you’d like more information on our Cisco Aggregation Services Routers , please contact us today..